"Neptune"...the 1968 Single Cab

[brotha bran]

Sometimes you just can't beat the addiction. Despite still being in the middle of the restoration of my 1976 Transporter, I found another Bay that I just couldn't pass up. After selling our Passat Wagon before moving back to Maine from WA this year, we found ourselves in need of a second car again once we settled in here. Last summer I had contacted a fellow here in Maine who had his single cab for sale on the Samba. I tried to work out a deal, but the timing just wasn't right and I went back to WA empty handed. When I saw it pop back up on the classifieds here a few months back, I jumped.

The price was right, the truck has a good recent lineage, and heck...who doesn't want a single cab? Meet "Neptune"...










Now, the truck was previously owned (prior to the most recent owner) by Charlie Jordan, one of the few ACVW mechanics in Maine that has a good reputation. He rebuilt the engine recently and it runs pretty well. Everything, from the engine, to the body, etc. seems to be stock. There's some pretty minor rust, with the only rot I've found being a small section of the gates (see photo), and the doglegs. Other than that and some normal surface rust, it's in pretty top condition...especially for a truck.

My initial questions and tasks include the following...hopefully ya'll can chime in with some info for me. Thanks:


1) Every once in a while it has trouble firing up, and takes a bit of throttle to get her going. There doesn't seem to be much logic to it though. My only guess so far is that there's a slight crack in the intake tube that goes from carb to air cleaner. Thoughts?

2) There's no radio, just the original block off plate. It seems like maybe there was never a radio because there are also no speakers, and no discernible wiring for audio at all. What's the best way to go about adding a stereo deck and a couple speakers? Are there any good tutorials online for this?
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1976 Transporter "Betsy" [Reef Blue, Rebuilt 2L w/ Raby CS heads, 010 Auto. ]
1968 Single Cab "Neptune" [Neptune Blue, stock, stock, stock]

[skills@eurocarsplus]

Congrats! Had I not found my s/c the wife and I were heading to look at that one. Love the neptune blue!
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[Stuartzickefoose]

as for the stereo, look into a glove box mounting kit. it will put the radio head unit in the glove box, so you dont have to hack the dash up, and hide it from prying eyes.

as for speakers....bass is omni-directional, so you can mount a sub anywhere (under the seat) and the mids and highs are directional, so mount them so you have them aimed at your face, and you will get better quality sound out of them. also, any enclosure (for the speakers or the sub) will help you get clearer low noise...so even in the door or kick panels or where ever you put the mids, put a box of some sort behind it.


another thought, if you have no radio, you probably dont have an antenna....? i was planing on a short stubby one mounted inside the cab to reduce cutting and to keep the outside looking stock....just an idea i had, havent tested it yet.
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MINE - 1978 Westfalia ~ Maisy ~ FI, Hydraulic Valves, Electronic Points, 2.0 (NEED A SET OF HEADS, PM ME IF YOU HAVE A SET)

DAD's - 1972 Westfalia ~ Sticky ~ 1.7(?) 914 motor, allison electronic ignition, electric fuel pump, dual webers w/o choke.

“Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.”


“Those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.”

[busdaddy]

OOOhhhhhhh.... that's nice!


The starting could be lots of things, float level, fuel pressure, leaking needle/seat, weak coil or condensor, points, plugs, timing or a vacuum leak, you'll have to eliminate each one till you cure it.
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Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.

Wanted, 68-73 westy OG plaid curtains, singles OK.

[MOX]

this makes me want a truck, single or double cab......hmmmm
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if you can't bring it back in one piece, at least bring back all the pieces

[WestyMan1971]

Gives me hope of some day finding a decent single cab in New England

BTW... Love the Bruins sticker!
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WEST COASTERS! PERSON MISSING SINCE 4/4! PLEASE KEEP AN EYE OUT!

'71 Westy "Maggie" - M-Plate
'62 Notchback "Pearl"

My VW Blog

Granite State Aircooleds

Parts for sale!

[babysnakes]

Congrat's, nice truck.
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'69 SC under resto
'72 deluxe daily
'78 Westy motor transplant in progress
'71 super vert
1st bus, '67 Westy in '83. Thank you '74 Pontiac Ventura.
Luftwagens

420GOAT wrote:
..dont ever ever ever ever EVER, compare any bus forum to a bug forum...

[secretsubmariner]

That's badass isn't the blue interior pretty rare?
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-Tony
1978 Champagne- "Lord Puber"- first love.
1978 Champagne- "Scuttlebutt"
1978 Deluxe Auto Westfalia- "Samsquantch"

[brotha bran]

Thanks for the replies. I am quite happy with the truck and excited to really start putting it to the test. So far, it's hauled a yard of organic compost, but other than that it's just done duty around town here.

@ Stuartzickefoose: I've considered putting the deck in the glove-box...I think that'll all depend on which way I go with putting in gauges (VDO vs. DD...CHT, Oil temp/pressure). I guess the one thing I'm curious about, is adding the wiring for the audio in the first place. As you say, I have no antenna either. I've stuck my head under there and the only thing I can find is something one of the previous owners installed...a cigarette lighter outlet in the block-off plate. Other than that...there's definitely no traces of wiring for any radio. Where do I start with that? Do I just tap into the fuse block?

@ busdaddy: thanks for the list of things to check. I'll get going!

@ secretsubmariner: I'm not sure? Maybe someone more experienced in that regard can chime in. I can say I haven't seen too many with the blue interior on the site here, but I don't know if that's a tell-tale sign that it's "rare"..? Good question. I almost think the interior is OG though...maybe I can post a better photo of the seats and someone can tell me.
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1976 Transporter "Betsy" [Reef Blue, Rebuilt 2L w/ Raby CS heads, 010 Auto. ]
1968 Single Cab "Neptune" [Neptune Blue, stock, stock, stock]

[Manfreds78bay]

Drool. Neptune is very talented.
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1978 2.0L FI Campmobile

[jtauxe]

Most excellent find, there. And how satisfying to finally have made good on your previous attempt. I'll bet you just go out and sit in it or drive it around for the heck of it.
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John
"The bus came by and I got on. That's when it all began..." - Garcia/Weir/Kreutzman
Long gone: 1969 and '78 CE Transporters, Westies: 71, 76, 77, 76, 77, 71, 73, 77, 74
Current projects: 1975 ME Single Cab, 1978 RHD Double Cab 2.0-L FI
http://vw.tauxe.net

[skid]

OooOoOOOolalalalala that's nice.
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'71 Westfalia

[EvilMonkley]

[jtauxe]

[EvilMonkley]

[thewalrus]

For being a New England bus that thing looks awesome! Nice score man
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'75 Hard Top Westfalia 2.0L F.I.

[jtauxe]

[Stuartzickefoose]

[brokengun]

I've seen that single cab before! Charlie used to take it to the VW show every year loaded with parts. I spoke with him on the phone about a year ago and he was almost finished a Squareback project.

Charlie was is a super nice fellow, I was referred to him by some members of the Vactionland Volkswagen association. He gave me a lot of advice and pointed me in the right direction for the bus I'm working on now.

I have to say I'm a little jealous that you have that single cab now! Enjoy it, looks like an awesome ride. There are very few in the state.
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1975 Beetle - Parked for a year
1973 Bus - A work in progress (my main focus)

[rippofunk]

Pretty sure I spied that truck in Freeport area last week. Could have been mistaken as I was on 295 and it was just off an over pass.[/b]